Tent



J. L. PLUTH Feb. 2, 1937.

TENT

Filed Marlen l24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JL. Flu Zh l, r /'l l Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to tents or like structures and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a tent structure which is entirely closed with regard to the back, sides and top, but which is provided with flaps on the front so constructed and arranged that the flaps may be brought either wholly or partially together to either entirely close the front entrance to the tent or partially close it, or close it as regards nearly the entire area of the front opening, but

leaving space for ventilation.

Another object is to provide a tent of this character with front flaps which are held closed by a zipper or sliding fastener such as commonly used on jackets, galoshes, bags and the like.

A further object is to so construct the tent that it may be held erected and taut by two laterally disposed supporting rods engaging the apex or ridge of the tent.

A further object is to provide means whereby in rainy weather a ventilation opening may be left when the flaps at the front of the tent are partially closed, and provide means whereby the front of the tent above these flaps may be bellied outward so as to overhang the opening and prevent the inlet of rain or snow.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the tent erected and entirely closed;

Figure 2 is a like view to Figure 1 but showing the front flaps partially opened at the top and with a mosquito bar extending downward behind the opening;

Figure 3 is a like view to Figures l and 2 showing the front of the tent opened and the mosquito bar raised;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the way in which the tent is used in wet weather;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the tent;

Figure 6 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure '7 is a section on the line 'I-l of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section along the ridge of the tent showing one end of the ridge piece with its socket partly in section and showing the inserted end of one of the supporting stretchers;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view through a modified form of stretcher at the joint thereof;

Figure 10 is a detailed View of the lower end of the slide or zipper fastener.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the floor of the tent, which is shown in dotted lines in Figure 5 and which is designated I, is made of canvas. This floor canvas is wider at its forward end than at its rear end so that the two side edges of the canvas converge toward the rear 5 end. At the corners of this sheet Ii) of canvas are disposed the loops II whereby pegs I2 may be driven into the ground through these loops to hold the floor canvas stretched.

Attached to the rear edge of the oor canvas 10 iii is a canvas section I3 which converges toward its forward end, as shown most clearly in Figure 6. Attached to the lateral edges of this section I3 are the two lateral triangular sections I 4. These have the form of a scalene triangle 15 so that the forward edges extend divergently from the two corners of the forward end of the section i3, and so that when the tent is raised, the two corners I5 of these sections will extend downward and forward. 20

Attached to the edges I5 of the lateral sections I at the inner ends of the edges I5 is a downwardly and forwardly extending front section I6 which is stitched at its lateral margins to the sections I4 and to the forward end of the section 25 I3. This section I6 is, of course, wider at its lower end than at its upper end and extends down any convenient distance. All of the sections I0, I3, I4. and I5 are stitched permanently to each other.

Stitched to the edges I5 of the lateral sections below the section I6 but adapted to overlap beneath the lower edge of the section I6 are the two lateral tent flaps Il. These are, of course, Wider at their lower ends than at their upper ends. The upper ends extend beneath the lower end 35 portion of the section I8, as before stated, and the lower end portion of the section IB upon its inside face is formed with snap fastener members I8 which are adapted to receive or engage with coacting snap fastener members I9 attached 40 to the upper ends of the sections Il. Preferably there is provided in a fold at the lower end of the section I6 a transversely extending outwardly bowed metallic strip 29 which acts to outwardly bow the lower end of the section I6 for a purpose 45 to be later stated.

It will be noted fro-m Figure 3 that the lower ends of the flaps Il are attached to the floor canvas Il! along the lines: 2l and that this; stitching 2| extends from the outer edge of each section I'I inward a certain distance but that beyond this stitching, the flaps I'I are free tol be reversed or folded backward upon themselves, as shown in Figure 3. Attached to those portions of the flap I'I which in turn are attached to theV 55 floor canvas is a transversely extending strip of canvas 22 which constitutes a sill. This is also attached at 23 to the floor canvas. This strip 22 extends upward from the floor canvas and tends to prevent snakes, insects and small animals from getting into the tent. It is provided with a pair of snap fasteners 24 coacting with snap fastener sections Z5 on the flap Il, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, so that the two aps may be folded at against the sill 2li and held closed. The adjacent edges of the ap I i are engaged with each other by a zipper or sliding fastening device of the kind commonly found on bags and jackets, there being means at the lower ends of the two flaps Il whereby these flaps may be detachably connected with each other and whereby the slide 23 when it is moved, will engage with the oppositely disposed teeth carried by the edges of the flaps Il'. This form of slide fastening device is so much used today that it is not believed that any particular description is required as it in itself forms no part of my invention. The inner faces of the two lateral flaps I'. are provided each with a series of upwardly and outwardly disposed snap fasteners 2l. Attached to the inner face of the section i6 is a mosquito netting designated 28, having at its margins snap fastening members which coact with the snap fasteners 2 to hold the mosquito netting in the position shown in Figure l. The netting is also provided with snap fasteners at its lower end so that this netting may be turned up, as shown in Figure 3, on the inside or" the section I6 and connected to this section by the snap fastening members 29. Thus this mosquito netting may be either turned up out oi the way, as in Figure 3, or turned down, as shown in Figure 2 or Figure 4.

It will be noted from all of the figures that at the apex of the tent there are disposed outwardly and downwardly extending canvas ears or bonnets 3U and that the tent poles or stretchers 32, as shown clearly in Figures l to 3 of the drawings, extend up into these downwardly opening ears or bonnets. This would tend to support the ridge of the tent but preferably I use a short ridge piece designated 3I extending across the crest of the roof at the junction of the sections I3 and I6, tl'ns ridge piece having downwardly extending sockets 3la in its ends. This ridge piece is engaged or attached to the canvas in any suitable manner as by sewing and is adapted to receive the upper ends of tent poles or stretchers 32. The lateral sections I4 are provided each at its bottom and intermediate its ends with loops 33 through which these stretchers or tent poles are passed, and when these poles are raised to the position shown in the various gures, these tent poles will, of course, lift upward on the ridge piece 3l and raise the tent to its operative condition, as shown in the various gures.

While I have illustrated these tent poles or stretchers as each being formed in one section, I wish it distinctly understood that each or" these poles might be of a plurality of sections telescopically engaged with each other and having means whereby they may be held in an expanded condition. If the poles are made of telescopic sections, this is for the purpose of permitting the tent poles or stretchers to be conveniently packed in small compass.

In Figure 9, I have illustrated a telescopic tent pole or stretcher capable of engagement at its upper end with the sockets 3 Ia in the ridge piece 3|. The stretcher is formed of two tubular sections 3ll and 35, the section 34 being insertable into the open end of the section 35 and having telescopic relation thereto. The section 34 is pro vided in its interior with the spring 36 which carries at its extremity the pin 3'! projecting out through an opening in the tubular section 34. 'Ihe section 35 is provided at its upper end with two or more slots or openings 38 into which the pin 3'! is insertable. By the provision of a pluralitjy oi' these openings 3S, it is possible to longitudinally adjust the section 35 upon the section 34 in order to stretch the tent. A stop 39 is provided at the lower end of the section 35, so that the lower end of the section 34 will not strike the crutch tip 40, which I use for closing the lower end of the section 35. The operation of these telescopic stretchers will be fully understood from Figure 8.

In Figure 10, I have illustrated a conventional type of Zipper fastener having a slide 25, and stop 26a, this construction being a common and well known one for the purpose of permitting the flaps I'I to be entirely disengaged from each other to thereby permit the naps to be turned back, as shown in Figure 3, or permit the flaps to be engaged with each other and the slide of the fastening device shifted to close or partly close the ap I?.

It is to be noted that the loops 3321 at the bottom of the tent prevent the frame formed by the stretchers 32 from spreading at the bottom as the tent floor is solid fabric and these loops 33a are attached to the tent door.

In the use of my invention, the collapsed canvas is laid at upon the ground, the floor canvas being pulled out flat against the ground and the pegs I2 inserted so as to hold this floor canvas taut. The stretchers 32 are then disposed through the loops 33 and inserted in the sockets formed in the ends of the ridge element SI, and these tent poles or stretchers are then raised, which raises the whole tent so that it is in fully operative position. If it be desired to entirely close the tent, the upper ends of the free margins of the sections Il are engaged with the snaps I8. The slide 26 is shifted to close the entire front of the tent and the snaps 25 are engaged with the complementary snap fastener members 24 on the sill. If it be desired to fully open the tent, the front iiaps are opened up, as shown in Figure 3. Il it be desired to partially open the upper portion of the front of the tent for ventilation, the mosquito netting may be lowered, as shown in Figure 2, and connected to the snap fasteners 21 and the upper portions of the flap I7 opened out laterally, the slide 26 being brought upward to a point slightly above the lower margin of the mosquito netting. If it is wet weather and rain would be likely to strike into the opening closed by the mosquito netting, if the mosquito netting is used, then the flaps I'l are brought together, as shown in Figure 4, and completely closed by the snap fastener slide, but the other ends of the section I'I are not connected to the snap fasteners I8, but are left free from connection with the section I6, as shown in Figure 4. The outwardly bowed strip 2t will then act to hold the lower end of the section IS outward of the ap I'I and form a water shed.

What is claimed is:-

l. A tent including a rear section, triangular side sections stitched to the rear section, a front section extending downward from the upper end of the rear section and stitched thereto and to the forward edges of the side sections, the front section extending only partly down the side sections, front aps stitched to the forward edges of the side sections andV extending upward to a point beneath the lower margin of the front section and detachably engageable therewith, means for detachably engaging the abutting edges of the front flaps, the upper ends of the side sections each being provided with a downwardly opening ear to receive the upper ends of stretchers, the side sections having loops through which the stretchers may be passed.

2. A tent including a canvas floor sheet, -a rear section stitched at its lower end thereto and having upwardly converging side edges, triangular side sections stitched to the floor sheet and to the lateral edges of the rear section, a front section extending downwardly from the upper end of the rear section, stitched thereto and to the forward edges of the side sections, the front section extending only partly down the side sections, front flaps stitched to the forward edges of the side sections and extending upwardly beneath the lower margin of the front section and detachably engage-able therewith, a sill of textile material stitched to the forward edge of the floor sheet and extending inward on each side beneath the front flaps, the front flaps at their lower ends being stitched for a predetermined distance from the side edges to said iioor sheet and the sill, the margins of the front iiaps being foldable outward, means whereby the upper ends of the front aps may be detachably connected to the lower end of the front section, and means for detachably engaging the adjacent edges of the front naps with each other, a ridge piece disposed at the junction of the rear section with the front section and having sockets at its ends projecting outward of the side sections, ears on the side sections extending downward over said sockets and adapted to receive the upper ends of stretchers, said side sections having loops through which the stretchers may be passed.

3. In a tent of the character described, a front section extending downward from the top of the tent but terminating short of the bottom thereof and having a lower free edge, an outwardly bowed metallic strip disposed within said free edge, front flaps extending upward beneath the lower margin of the front section, and means whereby the front flaps may be detachably connected to said lower margin of the front section, the outwardly bowed strip acting to form a water shed over the upper ends of the front flaps.

4. In a tent of the character described, a rectangular lloor sheet having loops at its corners whereby it may be pegged down, a rear section having upwardly converging side edges stitched at its lower end to the floor sheet, side sections each having the form of a scalene triangle stitched at their lower edges to the floor sheet and at their rear edges to the rear section, a front section having upwardly converging side edges stitched at its lateral margins to the side sections and at its upper margin to the upper end of the rear section, the side sections at their upper ends having downwardly opening ears, a ridge piece disposed at the junction of the front and rear sections and having downwardly opening sockets disposed within said ears, a vertically disposed sill of textile material stitched to the front edge of the iioor sheet and extending upward therefrom, front flaps having their lower ends stitched to the sill and floor sheet and their lateral margins stitched to the side sections, the adjacent margins of the front aps being free to be turned back but having means when closed for attachment to the sill and having means at their upper ends for attachment to the lower margin of the iront section, a slide fastener shiftable along the abutting edges of the front flaps to secure partial or full closure of said front flaps, and a mosquito netting attached at its lower margin to the lower end of the front section and having means on its margins whereby it may be attached to the inner faces of the front ilaps or raised and attached to the upper end of the front section.

JACK L. PLUTH. 

